December 3, 2011

An 18-wheeler jackknifed on North Highway 70 on Saturday morning, Dec. 3, 2011, causing traffic to be stopped for a short while. There were no injuries reported and only one vehicle was involved in the wreckage. The roadways were wet Saturday morning due to Friday nightâ€™s rainfall and a slight drizzle on Saturday morning.

December 3, 2011

Chestine (Gibbs) Ripple, age 98, passed away on Friday, Dec. 2, 2011, in Sweetwater, Texas.
Graveside funeral services will be at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011, at Sweetwater Cemetery with Rev. Brian Brownlow officiating, under the direction of McCoy Funeral Home.
She was born on July 29, 1913, in Hico, Texas. She married Joe W. Ripple on July 8, 1943, in Pecos, Texas. Joe served in the U. S. Air Force, and was killed on Sept. 1, 1944, while stationed in England during World War II.

December 3, 2011

Mikel â€śMikeâ€ť Dee Looby, 66, of Duncan, Ariz., passed away on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2011, at his home in Franklin. He was born on July 15, 1945 in Houston, TX. He married Euthamia Looney on June 12, 1965 in Sweetwater, TX.

December 3, 2011

The City of Sweetwater has received the Growing Green Award from the Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) and the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA). Sweetwater received the award for growing its economy through renewable wind energy.
In 1999, a group from the American Electric Power (AEP) decided to build a renewable energy (wind) park called the Trent Mesa between Abilene and Sweetwater. This park would consist of 100 turbines that could produce 100 MW of output.

December 3, 2011

The holiday season is upon us and the annual Christmas parade, themed this year as "Under the Christmas Tree," will take place starting at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 5. The parade will begin at Higginbothamâ€™s and the Nolan County Plaza shopping center parking lots where the line up and judging will take place at 4 p.m.Â Pull floats in line, from the old IGA to the cable company ready to be judged at that time.

December 3, 2011

Donations to the 30th annual Spirit of Christmas Food Drive are still being accepted as the drive moves into its final weeks.
The drive will feed more than 14,000 families in Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana. The food drive is sponsored by Brookshire Grocery Company stores and various service organizations.
"Many families receive assistance through this effort, and every single donation counts,â€ť said Sam Anderson, community involvement manager for BGC.

December 3, 2011

National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW) is a national observance that was established to highlight the importance of continuing influenza vaccination, as well as fostering greater use of flu vaccine after the holiday season into January and beyond. NIVW is the week of Dec. 4-10, 2011.
The health department wants to encourage residents to use preventive actions:
â€˘ Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.